Ironically named ‘Hope Project’ primary school turned into a garbage dump

By Jean Cao JunchenA Hong Kong charity sponsored ‘Hope Project’ school in Guizhou has been abandoned and turned to a garbage recycling station, Beijing News reported Thursday.The primary school was founded in 2008, costing 350,000 yuan for the construction. It received 200,000 yuan from Hong Kong Lingquan Charitable Foundation, and 150,000 from the Kaili city government. The school was opened on March 2009 and over 30 students enrolled.Villager were excited and enthusiastic when the school first opened, keen that their children have a better quality study environment, according to China Daily. However, the declining number of students and construction of a nearby highway affected the development of the school, the local education bureau told the Legal Evening News.

Some villagers moved the family to Longchang town in 2010. Students subsequently transferred to Longchang primary school, and only 11 students among two classes leaving behind, Kaili Education Bureau said.To integrate the teaching sources and improve educational quality, as well as meet the demand to highway’s planning and construction, all 11 students subsequently transferred to Longchang primary school as boarding students. The Hope Project school will be managed and used by the village committee.

Within months of its opening, the school closed its doors, serving as a chicken farm for a time before becoming the garbage dump it is today.